Warner Robins council members sworn in for new terms

WARNER ROBINS — Three City Council members were sworn in for four-year terms and a new mayor pro tem was appointed at Monday night's meeting.

Council members Mike Davis, Carolyn Robbins and Tim Thomas took their oaths of office and celebrated their November re-elections.

Thomas said the swearing-in ceremony was particularly special to him because his father was sworn in as a councilman 40 years ago this year.

The three council members were sworn in by Superior Court Judge George Nunn, who plans to retire after this year, Mayor Randy Toms said.

"He's been a great judge for almost 30 years in Houston County," Toms said. "It's been a pleasure for me to have worked for him and with him in the past."

In other business, the council appointed Thomas as mayor pro tem, replacing Robbins in that role. Also, Monica Wilburn, president of the Houston County Bar Association, was newly appointed as one of two assistant judges for Municipal Court, said City Attorney Jim Elliott.

Councilman Chuck Shaheen was absent due to the recent death of his mother, Barbara Shaheen. Toms and all members of the council expressed condolences to the Shaheens.

Also Monday night, the council voted to accept a gift of about 11 acres of land from Patsy Stalnaker, a relative of Houston County Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker. The property is near George Circle, north of Moody Road, Elliott said.

The land "will probably be used in conjunction with the Wellston Trail for future expansion of that to make it longer," Elliott said. "(The donated land) fills in an area where we don't yet have a right of way."

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Warner Robins council members sworn in for new terms ."